Following the lead of other Democrats across the country, congressional candidate John Callahan signed a pact never to cut or privatize the Social Security Fund.

In front of a crowd of seniors at Whitehall Manor, Callahan signed the pledge and took a few shots at his Republican opponent, who was quoted in 2005 as saying he was open to considering giving younger workers the option of investing a portion of their Social Security into personal accounts.

“I’ll never gamble with your Social Security money on Wall Street,” he said. “It’s something that Congressman (Charlie) Dent can’t say with a straight face.”

President Bush had stopped using the word privatization to describe a proposal for Social Security, but the centerpiece of the proposal was personal retirement accounts. Dent said in a 2005 story that he was undecided about the proposal. The proposal never turned into written legislation.

Dent campaign manager Shawn Millan said Dent has always opposed "privatization of Social Security" and has never supported personal accounts.

"Callahan’s statements are both outrageous and false," Millan said. "The fact is election after election seniors have stood with Charlie Dent because they know they can trust him on Social Security."

At the news conference, Callahan also pointed out that Minority Leader John Boehner has said he would like to see the retirement age for full benefits to gradual increase from 66 today to 70.

Callahan pointed out that Dent said at a recent debate that he would vote for Boehner as speaker of the House given the chance.

Callahan also announced that National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans endorsed him

Callahan among is Democrats across the country that have made Social Security a campaign issue this year as political polls show the Democrats have a chance at losing control of the House.

As recently as August during a weekly address, President Obama had said “privatizing Social Security a key part of their legislative agenda.” The truth, according to the highly-regarded FactCheck.org, just a representative from Wisconsin, Paul Ryan, who called for a plan permitting private Social Security accounts and other changes to those under 55 years old.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the 75th anniversary of the program this year to attack Republicans as threatening the program and released a list of Republicans who have said things against social security. Dent’s name isn’t on the list.

Chris Borick, a political scientist at Muhlenberg College said he’s not surprised that Democrats are emphasizing social security in this election. He said the Democrats, who are fighting against an anti-Democrat political mood, are searching for issues that might generate a similar energy as to what Republicans get from health care and stimulus spending.

“They feel this year, especially given the problems in the stock market over the past few years, can bring back concerns over privatization,” Borick said.

It’s also politically expedient, he said, because it touches a faithful group of voters – senior citizens

“They are as a reliable segment of the population as anyone,” Borick said, “and in a mid-term year, when turnout will by about 40 percent, they’re presence is felt.”